flindt



Heel, Shank and Counter Supporter.

Patented Aug. 24,1880.

-FEIERS, FHOTO-LITHOGHAPNER. WASHINGTON n C (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. FLINDT. Heel, Shank and Counter Supporter.

No. 231,554. Patented Aug. 24,1880.

W MM

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY FLINDT, OF ALBANY, OREGON.

HEEL, SHANK, AND COUNTER SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,554, dated August 24, 1880.

Application filed July 2, 1880.

T 0 all whom at may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY FLINDT, of Albany, State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heel, Shank, and Counter Supporters 3 and 1 do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification, in Which- Figure 1 is a view of the heel, counter, and shank dies. Fig. 2 is the heel and counter blank; Fig. 3, the heel former or mold; Fig. 4, a perspective view of the heel partly finished. Fig. 5 is the blank for metal sole. Fig. 6 is the mold for forming the shank. Fig. 7 is the shank, and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a completed shoe, such as 1 describe.

The nature of my invention relates to the construction of a metal heel, shank, and counter suppoft in one piece for boots and shoes; anditconsistmbination and arrangement of parts to this end, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and set forth in the claims.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction.

A represents a blank of sheet metal, of substantially the shape shown, which' is stamped out by a die, A. This blank is then placed in a mold or former, A, and pressed into the shape shown in Fig. 4 to form the sides and back of a heel and counter support.

Around the inside of the heel, at or near the bottom, is soldered or secured in any suitable manner a steel wire, a, and just above this wire is secured a metal plate, B, which forms a backing for and aids in supporting a leather plate, B, whose edge is formed with a groove, 1), fitting over the wire a, as seen in Fig. 4..

O is the blank for themetal sole, cut of the shape shown, having shoulders 0 0 near the heel, and is then placed in a form and its outer edges pressed up, as seen in Fig. 4. This sole is soldered into the heel and counter and secured to the leather sole, preferably by flatheaded tacks clinched upon the inner side.

D is the blank for the shank-plate, stamped out by a die, D, and molded or formed in the (No model.)

form D to the shape seen in Fig. 7. It is then provided at its rear endwith the plate E, which is soldered to it at right angles and forms the breast or front of the heel. This shank-plate D is then placed against the metal sole 0 in the proper position, and the overlapping edges 0 c of this sole are turned down over the edges of the shank and secured. The heelfrontE is then soldered on, and the whole forms a heel, shank, and counter support igppe piece, and is now ready to receive the upper 1n the usual way.

The advantages of such a device as I have herein described are many.

The old counter-support of leather was unnecessarily pliable and liable to run over on the side by use.

Heels made of cast-iron or other metals were expensive and very defective in their fastening, being generally secured by from one to three screws, which left the counter loosely connected, and,with no support from the heel, was very liable to run over.

The steel shanks in common use have an unnecessary and very objectionable spring, which, with the narrowness of the steel, allowed the heel and toe of a boot or shoe to twist in opposite directions, and the result was soon a misshapen shoe, twisted and run down upon one side.

By making the heel, shank, and counter in one piece, as l have described, the whole is combined and so braced that there can be no twisting in different directions, and consequently no running over at one side, while the device being made of sheet metal is strong, light, cheap, and leaves the foot the greatest freedom of motion compatible with a neat fit.

If desired, a metal plate may be used upon the bottom of the heel instead of the leather plate B shown in the drawings.

In cases where the wearer is very heavy, or where from constant running up or down steps there is great strain upon the shank, it may also be found advantageous to place between the shank-plate and metal sole a metal brace running the full length of the shank.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The metal heel A, in combination with the wire a, soldered or otherwise secured to 4. The metal sole C, having shoulders 0 c the inside of the heel, substantially as and for and overlapping edges 0 c, in combination the purpose set forth. with shank D, plate E, and heel A, all sub- 2. The combination of a hollow metal heel stantially as and for the purpose set forth. 15

I11 testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I afiix my signature in presence of HENRY FLINDT.

5 with an internal supporting-plate, B, and wire a, substantially as and for the purpose set 3. The combination of a hollow metal heel with wire a, metal plate 13, and leather disk 10 B, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

\Vitnesses:

O. G. BURKHART, J. H. BURKHART.

forth. two witnesses. 

